APPENDIX J:
REPORTS FROM FUTURES TEAMS

TEAM: Technology in Learning
Team Leader: Bruce Stavert
Date: 19/11/98

BACK TO APPENDIX J INDEX

1. PEDAGOGY

Strategic Options

Implications for:
System / Government

Implications for:
Principals / Schools

Action to be taken

1. To change the PEDAGOGY as follows:

* Students use higher order thinking skills to enhance their learning

* Teachers to become "curriculum brokers" as well as subject specialists

* Technology becomes a tool for enhancing learning

- Promote the new pedagogy.

- Imbed new pedagogy in curriculum materials (eg syllabuses).

- Hardware / Software resources in place to support new pedagogy.

- Promote new pedagogy to staff / students / parents / community.

- Raise awareness for principals in new vision for pedagogy.

- NSWSPC reps to meet with DET personnel with power to facilitate these changes.

- NSWSPC reps to meet with the NSW teachers Federation.

2. Develop the virtual classroom:

* Establish pilot projects, model schools, expert teachers, hardware & software support etc **

- Establish a model school.

- Fund release of staff to participate in model school.

- Allocate resources. - Survey schools to identify best practice examples.

- Ask Technology Advisers to identify examples of best practice.

3. Training and Development for all Teachers:

* In use of technology in learning

* In their new role as facilitator / navigator / broker in student centered learning

* Technologically competent teachers go into schools to support new approach to pedagogy.

- Replace training staff by technologically expert staff in home schools.

- Establish basic competency levels for teachers in technology.

Expand access points to IT and beyond. - Identifying technological approaches taken by other education providers.

- Meeting with the Student Learning Team to clarify and coordinate the proposed view of the pedagogical issues.

** Set up a model school with expert teachers (eg at the Australian Technology Park) where best practice pedagogy incorporating best practice pedagogy in learning takes place (staff of experts) and a mobile student population. Perhaps use a project oriented curriculum. Then take 25% of the staff from a school for a 10 week period to teach in the model school and have 1 to 1 monitoring by the experts. They then constitute a critical mass to go back to their schools.

 

2. CURRICULUM

Strategic Options

Implications for:
System / Government

Implications for:
Principals / Schools

Action to be taken

1. Establish a cross-KLA approach to curriculum. Board of Studies and Government work to dismantle KLAs.   Council meets with the Board of Studies. (President / Managers)
2. Syllabuses:

* Develop more flexible process-oriented syllabuses,

* Build technology use into all syllabuses and assessment,

* Report student competencies in technology.

Board of Studies to reconsider the nature of syllabuses.

Technology pedagogy to be mandated.

Reduce face to face teaching for teachers.

Report student "Technology Literacy". Council meets with the Curriculum Directorate.

(Judy Byrne) A & R?

3. Hardware / Software / Access:

* Develop user friendly hardware / software,

* Harness industry knowledge and expertise in the development of software / hardware,

* Broaden access points for students (internet, intranet etc),

* Establish global partners across the world.

Involve teachers in software development.

Ensure all schools are cabled and have multi-access to the internet.

Link with individuals, schools - interstate and internationally. Technology planning group (Technology in Learning Team) meets with IT companies.

 

3. RESOURCES

Strategic Options

Implications for:
System / Government

Implications for:
Principals / Schools

Action to be taken

1. Redesign buildings and learning spaces to integrate technology in learning. Upgrade school facilities - furniture and cabling.

Redesigning buildings.

Create flexible learning spaces. NSW Secondary Principals Council to talk to:

- Properties

- Information Technology Directorate

2. Schools have ready access to cheap and appropriate software / hardware. Supply software and hardware cheaply to all schools. Principals use software / hardware to promote Information Technology use in learning. Finance
3. Schools have an Information Technology manager per school to ensure it works. IT Manager to be a technical expert. Fund Information Technology (IT) Managers.

Course in IT supplied by the Department over the Web and CD ROM.

   
4. Expand off-site learning through outside accessing of IT. Provide sufficient ISDN lines to enable good access.    

BACK TO APPENDIX J INDEX